A large void remains on Melrose Avenue after Fresh & Easy grocery company announced last week that it is shutting its stores.

The building where a Fresh & Easy grocery store was planned to operate sits vacant. CVS is in the early stages of taking its place. (photo by Gregory Cornfield)

Members of the Melrose Business Improvement District (BID) said they are disappointed that Fresh & Easy won’t be able to bring plans to build a store at 7500 Melrose Ave. to fruition. But they are enthusiastic about early stage plans to fill the space with a CVS pharmacy. Paul Neuman, director of communications for Councilman Paul Koretz, 5th District, said CVS has applied for permits at the site.

Details of CVS’s plans are expected to be released later next month once they are finalized, said Mike DeAngelis, director of public relations for CVS.

Donald Duckworth, executive director for the Melrose BID, said they are working with CVS to fill the vacancy.

“The vacancy is not good for anybody,” he said. “Even though CVS is different than Fresh and Easy, it still is an improvement over a vacant building.”

Duckworth said the BID wants to work with CVS to continue to encourage a pedestrian-centric environment in the community, and to make sure security measures are in place. They are hoping CVS installs storefront activity with kiosks or newsstands to generate business on the street. He said he doesn’t think it will be a 24-hour operation, suggesting the store will likely be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. most days.

In 2012, tenants moved out of the 7500 Melrose Ave. building and the property was renovated. In 2013, Fresh & Easy announced that it was experiencing financial trouble. The company was ultimately bought by Yucaipa Companies in November 2013.  Previously, the site housed approximately a dozen shops, including a Skechers store and a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.